#3 Keita Balde Diao – Lazio
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When people think of La Masia, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi come to mind. The backbone of Barcelona’s dynasty over the last decade came from their fabled youth system, but in reality, the impact the Blaugrana have had on the game is much greater and spreads far wider than the Camp Nou.
Many talented players weren’t quite that talented, and there is no shame in that. Some of those have left for pastures new and found a route to the top elsewhere. Lazio’s 21-year-old striker Keita Balde Diao is one of them. Now a regular in the Roman side’s starting eleven, the Spanish-born Senegal striker is becoming a key man as his club chase qualification for European football next year.
(Video Courtesy: Fortaleza Productions YouTube Channel)
Keita was on the fringes of the team as they finished third, and qualified for the Champions League, in 2014/15, but is now helping lead the charge.
Typically, with any Masia graduate, Keita is technically excellent, but he has pace to burn and impressive upper-body strength too. Staying at Lazio, for the time being, would not be the end of the world, but he certainly has the talent for bigger and better things with Manchester United recently linked.
